Professional disc golf player Tim Barham, who travels the country on tours, says Lyon’s newly-opened course is among the best he’s seen.

He won first place and $575 during the first tournament, Course Record Challenge, Saturday at the Lyon’s Den course at James F. Atchison Park. Barham set the first course record of 44, which is 14 under par at the course that opened in late July.

The 24-year-old Fenton resident has played a lot of courses while pursuing his career and he says the Lyon’s Den is one of his favorites, because it offers hole variations.

“The course was awesome,” said Barham, who was sponsored at the tournament by Discraft in Wixom. “I like how it’s more technical than 18 baskets in a wide open field. They used the elevation and it’s a lot more fun. A lot of times you feel like you’re making the same shot.”

He was among 25 people who participated in the tournament – 15 were professionals, including two world famous disc golf players from Sweden: Emil Dahlgren and Henrik Johansen.

“The tournament was a huge success,” said Sean Morgan, course designer and tournament director. “We had the top players in the area show up, a couple state champions, one world champion and the top two players from Sweden.”

He did, however, hope to see more players.

“A lot of the best players in the area were there, and I think that scared some of the people away. And rain was in the forecast,” Morgan added.

Unique course

Players said they liked the course, because it’s a change of pace from other Michigan courses that go into the woods, said Morgan, a Lyon Parks and Recreation advisory board member and head of the disc golf subcommittee.

“This is a lot more open. There’s not so many trees. There’s many elevation changes. A lot of holes you could be throwing up hill, down hill, side of a hill and over a valley. We put a lot of effort to make it aesthetically pleasing and people notice that.”

Disc golf is played by throwing a disc into a basket, similar to a round of ball golf, as disc golfers often refer to the traditional version. The popularity of the sport has soared across the country and especially in Michigan in the last 10 years. There are about 300 courses in the state. But the need is greater, said Morgan, a Lyon resident.

Other area disc golf courses are at Kensington Metropark, as well as parks in Northville, Canton, Dexter, Hamburg and Whitmore Lake. Some disc golf courses are free; others require a fee. Lyon’s course is $2 for a full day of play.